今天，先跟大家講一些“一國兩制”的締造者──鄧小平在香港活動的事情。為什麼要談這個題目？皆因我翻閱早年“民研”和相關的統計數字，發覺鄧小平雖然逝世，但在逝世後一段頗長的日子裡，他仍是香港人熟悉和主動提及的人物。按道理，人去茶涼，浪淘盡千古風流人物，但為什麼他還有這樣的吸引力？試問，有多少中國的近代政治人物在下台後仍在民眾心中留下印象？近年只有前總理朱鎔基（“民研”數據可反映出來），以後有沒有？不知道。所以，鄧小平就是我這張“數字音樂椅”第一個聯想到的人。
1997年香港回歸時，很多人都遺憾鄧小平無法前來香港（他在1997年2月逝世），見證他設計的“一國兩制”正式啟動，只能由遺孀卓琳代作見證人。不過，其實鄧小平生前曾五次經過香港，有時是匆匆過境，但有時卻是特別任務在身。不過，這五次都是在中共建政之前，以後就沒有他再度來港的資料了。
第一次懷著救國之志經過香港
鄧小平第一次經過香港，是1920年9月11日。那時候，他只有十六歲，是年青力壯的小伙子，在大陸剛結束為期一年的“留法勤工儉學預備班”，與近百名青年一起乘船由上海出發，經香港前往法國。那時候，先後到法國勤工儉學的還有後來的中共領導人周恩來、陳毅等人。他們當年都懷著救國之志，希望學習外國的先進經驗，然後返國“趕走一切害人蟲……..革命造反永不停………徹底踩爛舊世界，革命江山萬代紅。”（這是中共後來的紅歌歌詞）
1921年6至8月期間，陳毅等學生曾闖鬧中國駐法公使館，痛毆秘書王曾思，並進佔里昂中法大學。行動失敗後，陳毅被武裝押返中國。中共後來讚譽他們的時候，也證實了這些事情，當然表達語言和解讀的角度就有所不同了。
噢！還有一事順道一提，就是當年周恩來在法國曾跟李彥和（即今天被視為“反中亂港”的李柱銘的父親）認識和詳談救國之道，此乃後話，容後再談。
回想鄧小平第一次經過香港，行程沒有什麼特別，就像今天一些中國學生前往外國留學時經過香港一樣。不過，當年很多中國留學生學成之後都回國奉獻和發展，今天的中國留學生則按各自的意願，孔雀東南飛。喜耶？嘆耶？我不懂評價，只能說中國人有自由了。
胡志明替鄧小平搭路喬裝到越南
不過，鄧小平第二次經過香港就有特別任務了。在這裡，先要交代1927年的事，中共中央已由武漢轉至上海，決定要大規模進行武裝起義。如從當年執政民國政府的角度看，這些人就是“搞動亂和暴亂”，像北京今天指有些人在香港“製造動亂”一樣，但角色和性質自然有正反不同的解讀，留與後人評說。
到了1929年，鄧小平已是中共中央秘書長，忽然接到命令，前往廣西策動全面的革命工作，既要恢復和建立黨組織，又要到處交朋友，建立關係網，更要醞釀暴力革命的機會。後來的“百色起義”，就是鄧小平和其他共產黨人張雲逸等在廣西部署，而且一舉成功的事例。
可是，鄧小平當時是國民黨的通緝犯，而且是重要犯人，行蹤必須保密。怎麼辦？他後來找到一個人幫助他，此人就是後來的越南共產黨、越南民主共和國和越南人民軍的主要創立者和領導人胡志明。兩人早已在法國相識。
胡志明後來到了上海搞地下工作，準備日後在越南起事。他知道鄧小平要前往廣西，但陸路不安全，於是建議鄧小平改用海路，並為他搭好關係，由上海到香港，再由香港乘船往越南，最後經中越邊境進入廣西，繞了一個大彎，可見香港確是一個非常有利的中轉地。國民政府沒有發覺，因為鄧小平已化名鄧斌，以商人身份前來香港。
其實那時候，已有不少中共黨員在香港，包括南方書記賀昌和夫人黃慕蘭，以及中共廣東省委軍委書記聶榮臻和夫人張瑞華，他們都住在跑馬地鳳凰台附近。鄧小平這次經過香港，主要是部署廣西的工作，逗留了幾天，十分低調，以免引起港英政府的干擾。
鄧小平到了廣西後，努力部署地下工作，先後在百色、龍州等地醞釀暴力革命。當時的工作十分順利，隨時可以行動，但不知怎的，中共中央忽然又急召他返上海。他於是在1930年1月第三次經過香港，急急趕返上海。
鄧小平第二次和第三次經過香港，都是來去匆匆，但第四次來到香港時，卻肩負特別任務，而且是非常重要的任務。且待下周細說。
劉銳紹
Today, let us delve into some of the activities of Deng Xiaoping (鄧小平), the architect of the “One Country, Two Systems” (一國兩制) principle, during his time in Hong Kong. Why address this topic? It’s because, after reviewing early “HKPORI” (Hong Kong Public Opinion Research Institute) data and related statistics, I discovered that while Deng Xiaoping passed away many years ago, he remained a well-known and frequently mentioned figure in Hong Kong for a significant period after his death. Generally, when people pass away, their influence fades, swept away by the tides of time. So, why does Deng Xiaoping still hold such appeal? How many modern Chinese political figures leave a lasting impression on the public after stepping down? In recent years, perhaps only former Premier Zhu Rongji (朱鎔基) has achieved similar recognition (as reflected in HKPORI data). Will there be others in the future? It’s hard to say. Thus, Deng Xiaoping was the first person that came to mind when considering this “musical chair of numbers”.
When Hong Kong returned to China in 1997, many regretted that Deng Xiaoping was unable to witness the formal implementation of his “One Country, Two Systems” design (he passed away in February 1997). Instead, his widow, Zhuo Lin (卓琳), served as his stand-in for the historic occasion. However, during his lifetime, Deng Xiaoping passed through Hong Kong five times. Sometimes, it was a quick transit, while on other occasions, he had specific missions to accomplish. Notably, all five visits occurred before the founding of the People’s Republic of China; there is no record of him returning to Hong Kong after that.
First Visit: Passing Through Hong Kong with a Dream to Save the Nation
Deng Xiaoping’s first journey through Hong Kong occurred on 11th September 1920. At the time, he was just 16 years old, a robust young man, fresh from completing a year-long “Work-Study Preparation Class” in mainland China. Together with nearly a hundred other young people, he set sail from Shanghai, passing through Hong Kong en route to France. Among those who later travelled to France for work-study programmes were other future Chinese Communist Party leaders, such as Zhou Enlai (周恩來) and Chen Yi (陳毅). They all shared a common goal: to learn from the advanced practices of foreign nations and return home to “drive out all harmful pests... revolution without rest... crush the old world entirely, and ensure the revolutionary cause endures for generations” (lyrics from later Communist Party revolutionary songs).
Between June and August 1921, students such as Chen Yi staged protests at the Chinese Legation in France, assaulting Secretary Wang Zengsi (王曾思) and occupying the Sino-French University in Lyon. Following the failure of these actions, Chen Yi was escorted back to China under armed guard. These events were later praised by the Chinese Communist Party, albeit with differing language and interpretations.
Oh, and one more thing worth mentioning: during his time in France, Zhou Enlai met and had in-depth discussions on national salvation with Li Yanhe (李彥和), the father of Martin Lee Chu-ming (李柱銘) (later labelled as “anti-China and disruptive to Hong Kong”). But that’s another story, to be discussed at a later time.
Reflecting on Deng Xiaoping’s first passage through Hong Kong, the trip was unremarkable, akin to how Chinese students today might transit through Hong Kong on their way to study abroad. However, back then, many Chinese students returned home to contribute and develop the country after completing their studies. Today, Chinese students tend to pursue their own paths abroad, spreading far and wide. Is this something to celebrate, or lament? I cannot judge, but it seems clear that Chinese people now enjoy greater freedom of choice.
Ho Chi Minh Helps Deng Xiaoping Disguise Himself for Vietnam
Deng Xiaoping’s second visit to Hong Kong, however, was tied to a special mission. To provide context, let us revisit 1927, when the Chinese Communist Party Central Committee moved from Wuhan to Shanghai and decided to launch large-scale armed uprisings. From the perspective of the ruling Nationalist Government at the time, these individuals were “instigators of chaos and rebellion,” akin to how Beijing today accuses some of “creating chaos” in Hong Kong. The roles and nature of these events, of course, are subject to differing interpretations, and history will judge them.
By 1929, Deng Xiaoping had risen to become the Secretary-General of the Chinese Communist Party Central Committee. He suddenly received orders to go to Guangxi to organise comprehensive revolutionary efforts. His tasks included rebuilding and establishing Party organisations, networking with allies, and preparing for violent revolution. The subsequent “Baise Uprising” (百色起義), which Deng Xiaoping and fellow communists such as Zhang Yunyi (張雲逸) orchestrated in Guangxi, stands as a successful example of such efforts.
However, as a wanted fugitive of the Nationalist Government—and a particularly high-profile one—Deng Xiaoping had to keep his movements secret. What could be done? He sought help from Ho Chi Minh (胡志明), a future key figure in the founding of the Vietnamese Communist Party, the Democratic Republic of Vietnam, and the Vietnamese People’s Army. The two had already met in France.
At the time, Ho Chi Minh was engaged in underground work in Shanghai, preparing for future uprisings in Vietnam. He knew it was unsafe for Deng Xiaoping to travel to Guangxi by land, so he suggested taking a sea route instead. Ho Chi Minh arranged for Deng to travel from Shanghai to Hong Kong, then by ship to Vietnam, and finally across the Sino-Vietnamese border into Guangxi—a long detour, but one that demonstrated Hong Kong’s strategic importance as a transit hub. Deng Xiaoping adopted the alias “Deng Bin” and posed as a businessman while in Hong Kong, successfully evading the notice of the Nationalist Government.
At that time, many Communist Party members were already in Hong Kong, including Southern Secretary He Chang (賀昌) and his wife Huang Mulan (黃慕蘭), as well as Guangdong Provincial Committee Military Secretary Nie Rongzhen (聶榮臻) and his wife Zhang Ruihua (張瑞華). They lived near Phoenix Terrace in Happy Valley. During this visit, Deng Xiaoping primarily focused on planning revolutionary activities in Guangxi. He stayed for only a few days and kept a low profile to avoid interference from the British Hong Kong authorities.
After arriving in Guangxi, Deng Xiaoping worked tirelessly to organise underground activities, preparing for armed uprisings in places like Baise and Longzhou. The work proceeded smoothly, and action could have been taken at any moment. However, for unknown reasons, the Chinese Communist Party Central Committee suddenly summoned him back to Shanghai. Thus, in January 1930, Deng Xiaoping passed through Hong Kong for the third time, this time in a hurry to return to Shanghai.
Deng Xiaoping’s second and third visits to Hong Kong were swift and purposeful. However, his fourth visit to Hong Kong was tied to an especially critical mission. Stay tuned for further details next week.
Johnny LAU
(The article was written in traditional Chinese and translated by AI tool.)
